Ironing-machine.



B. A. 1111311111111'.4 IBONING. MACHINE. Y 1 APPLICATION FILED JAN. A8, 1907. RENEWED MAR. 12, 1909. 921 ,55 1 Patented May 11, 1909.

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B. A. METGALF. IRONING MACHINE.

PPLIOATION FILED 1111.3. 1907. BENBWED ma. 12, 1909.

Patented May 11, 1909.

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B. A. METCALF. IRONING MAGHINE. APPLIOATION I'ILE1) JAN.'8, 1907. RENEWED MAB.. 12, 1909. 921 ,55 l Patented May 11, 1909.

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I BENJAMIN A. METCALF, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

IRONING-MACHINE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1909.

Application filed January 8, 1907, Serial No. 351,353. Renewed March 12, 1909. Serial No. 483,026.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN A. MET- CALF, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ironing-Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specification.

My invention relates to im roveinents in ironing machines and inclu es means for moistening the opposite edges of the article to be ironed as a collar or cuff and also means for ironing both edges of the said article, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved ironing machine. F ig. 2 is a similar view with the carrying disk or wheel partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the machine partially in section. In this view the ironing shoes or devices for engaging the opposite edges of the article are illustrated. Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing, however, the device for moistening the opposite edges of the article. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, showing the ironing shoes in section. Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing one of the guide pulleys or disks engaged by the carrying belt.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a table or platform upon which is mounted a vertically disposed shaft 6 upon which is jour? naled a relatively large disk or wheel 7. This shaft las shown in the drawing is centrally mounted at one side of the table. At each ofthe four corners of this table is located a bracket 8 in which is journaled a vertically disposed shaft 9 to the upper portion of which is made fast a relatively small disk or wheel 10. Three of the brackets 8 are secured to the table by bolts 12, while the other bracket is secured by a single bolt 13 passing through a slot 14, whereby the bracket is readily adjustable for the purpose of regulating the tension of the carrying belt 15 (see Figs. 1 and 2).

As shown in the drawing the machine is provided with two pairs of ironing shoes, the individual members of each pair being designated 16 and 17, respectively. The ironing shoes or members 16 are located above the carrying wheel or disk and the shoes or members 17 below the said disk. Each pair of these shoes is suitablysupported and the manner of such support is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. A description of the supporting means for one pair of shoes as well as the construction of the individual shoes will be sufficient since the two pairs of shoes are substantially alike both as to their construction and the manner of their support. The two ironing shoes are supported by brackets 1S and 18A, respectively. These brackets are secured to the table by means of bolts 19. The bracket 18 supports the uppermost shoe 16 and the bracket 18A (see Fig. 5) the lowermost shoe. The upper extremity of the bracket 18 is provided with a bearing 20 in which is journaled a short shaft 22 to one extremity of which is made fast the ironing shoe 16 while the opposite extremity is provided with an arm 30 on which is slidably mounted a weight 31 held in any desired position of adjustment by a set screw or bolt 32. The ironing shoe 16 is connected with the shaft by a set bolt 4 while the arm 30 is provided with acollar 2 through which is passed a set bolt 8 whereby the collar may be fastened to the shaft at any desired angle. The weighted arm serves as a counlterbalance or as a sort of tension device for `regulating the pressure of the slice 16 upon `the upper edge of the collar or other article 3S. The downward movement of the shoe v16 may be regulated by a set bolt 34 threaded in an angle bracket 85 secured to the standard of the bracket 1S. lity of this bolt engages the shoe and forms The. upper extrema positive stop to its downward movement. This set bolt maybe used or not as desired.

The bracket 18A is provided with a bearing 21 in which is iournaled a shaft 22A to one extremity of which is secured the ironing shoe 17 while lto the opposite extremity is attached an arm 36 provided with a Weight 37 adjustably mounted thereon. The weighted arm 36 serves to force the shoe 17 upwardly against the lower edge of the article 33. The upward movement of the shoe 17 may be regulated by a set bolt 38 passing through an auxiliary bracket 39 mounted on the main bracket 18A.V shoes 16 and 17 are formed hollow and gas is respectively delivered thereto for hea-ting purposes by means of jet tubes or burners 27 and 28 connected with any suitable source of supply. As shown in the drawing the burners 28 for the two lower shoes 17, communicate with branch pipes 4() ,and 41 connected with a main pipe 42 (see Fig. 2) while the burners 27 connected with the upper shoes 16, communicate with branch pipes 43 and 45 connected with a main pipe 46 (see Fig. 1).

VThe opposite edges of the article to be ironed, are moistened by means of two moistening rollers 47 and 48. The roller 47 is journaled in one extremity of an arm 49 whose opposite extremity is connected with a shaft 50 journaled in a bearing 51. The arm 49 is attached to the shaft by a set bolt 52. A counterbalance arm 53 is also attached to the shaft by a set bolt 54. This counterbalance arm is provided with a weight 55 slid ably mounted thereon and locked in place by a set bolt 56. This upper moistening roller is supplied with water through a flexible conduit 57 leading from a liquid-containing reservoir' 58 mounted on a standard 59. The lower or discharge extremity of the conduit 57 is mounted on a support 57A carried by the axis of the roller, whereby the discharge extremity of the said conduit, rises and fal s with the roller and therefore is always maintained in suitable operative relation therewith. The moistening roller 48is mounted on an arm 57 connected with a short shaft 58 journaled in a bearing 59. The arm 57 is attached to the shaft by a set bolt 60. Also attached to the shaft 58 is an arm 61, the latter being attached to the shaft by a set bolt 62. The arm 61 is provided with a weight 63 slidable on the arm and secured thereto by a set bolt 64. The roller 48 is mounted above a liquid-containing reservoir 65 mounted on the platform 5. The lower part of this roller is constantly in engagement with the liquid in the reservoir 657 whereby the periphery of the moistening roller is maintained in a suitable condition for moistening the edge of the article to be ironed as will be readily understood. The peripheries of the moistening rollers are provided with any suitable absorbent material whereby the liquid supplied to the upper roller at a single point for instance, will readily travel by capillary attraction and saturate the entire peripheral surface.

Mounted in suitable proximity to the carrying disk 7, is a feed chute 66 whose inner extremity terminates at a point between theA belt 15 and the disk 7 (see Fig. 1).

When the machine is in operation, motion is transmitted to the belt 15 and consequently to the carrying wheel or disk, from a shaft 67 upon which is mounted a pulley 68 The which may be connected with any suitable source of power. Motion is transmitted from the shaft 67 to the axle 69 of one of the rollers 10, by means of two bevel gears 70 and 71, the same being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing. As power is transmitted to the said roller 10, the belt 15 together with the carrying wheel 7, is caused to travel in a direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. YWhen these parts are in motion, the article to be ironed is placed in the feed chute 66 whereby it is caused to pass between the belt 15 and the carrying wheel 7, just beyond the point of the last named feed chute. This article is then carried around the wheel 7 for a distance amounting to approximately one-half of its circumference. During this travel its opposite edges are first moistened by the moistening rollers 47 and 48, after which it passes between two pairs of opposing ironing shoes 16 and 17 which act upon its opposite` edges, after which it leaves the wheel 7 and the endless traveling belt, having been thoroughly ironed. During this op eration the ironing shoes 16 and 17 are kept at a suitable temperature by the use of the burners 27 and 28 whichare supplied with gas for the purpose in the manner heretofore explained.

Each of the moistening rollers 47, 48 is provided with a flange or collar at one extremity of its body part and of somewhat greater diameter. This flanged portion as well as the body of the roller is provided with absorbent material. In the case of the lower roller this flange is adapted to dip into the liquid of the receptacle 65. The body of the roll is moistened by the travel of the liquid by capillary attraction to the body part. This is the preferred form `of construction. If the li uid is delivered directly to the body of the ro ler, the latter is liable to become too wet for use. Hence the advantage of the special construction shown in the drawing. The body of the moistening roller 47 is desi0- nated 47A and the fiange or collar 47 B whi e the body of the roller 48 is designated 48A and the collar or flange 48B.

It must be understood that any suitable form of ironing device may be employed as a part of my improved apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An ironing machine comprising a disk, an endless belt engaging a portion of the periphery of the disk, rollers for maintaining the belt in operative relation with the disk, means for actuating the belt, and ironing devices arranged beyond the plane of the disk and adapted to act on the opposite edges of the article as the latter is carried along between the belt and disk, substantially as described.

2. An ironing machine comprising a disk, an endless belt engaging a portion of its periphery, guide rollers i'or maintaining the belt in operative relation with the disk, the belt and disk being oi' such width that the article to be ironed will project beyond the same in opposite directions, and opposing ironing devices arranged to act on the o posite edges of the article to be ironed as thellatter is carried along between the belt and disk, substantially as described.

3. An ironing machine comprising a disk, an endless belt engaging a portion ci the disks periphery, the belt being oll less width and the disk being oi less thickness than the width oi' the article to be ironed whereby the opposite edges oi' the latter may be exposed while carried along between the disk and belt, and ironing devices arranged to act on the opposite edges of the article, the said devices being located directly opposite each other, substantially as described.

4. An ironing device comprising a disk, an endless belt engaging a portion oi' the periphery of the disk, guide rollers for maintaining the belt in operative relation with the disk, opposing ironing devices arranged to act on the opposite edges of the article to be ironed as the latter is carried along between the belt and disk, means for heating the ironing devices, and means for propelling the belt, substantially as described.

5. An ironing apparatus comprising a wheel or disk, an endless belt engaging a portion of the wheels periphery, guide wheels or rollers for maintaining the belt in operative relation with the wheel or disk, one oi said guides serving to actuate the belt and another being adjustable for tension purposes, and two pairs oi' ironing devices, the individual members ol' each pair being arranged directly opposite each other and ada ted to act on the article to be ironed as the atter is carried along between the belt and the wheel or disk.

The combination of a wheel or disk rotatably mounted, an endless belt arranged to engage a portion only of the periphery of the said wheel, rotary guidesi'or supporting the belt after it leaves the periphery of the latter and whereby the belt is maintained in operative relation with the wheel, and adapted to carry an article i'ed between the belt and the periphery oi the wheel, means i'or actuating one oi' the said guides l'or propelling purposes, and ironing shoes arranged beyond the plane of the wheel and adapted to engage the opposite edges of the article to be ironed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence oi two witnesses.

BENJAMIN A. METCALF.

Witnesses:

DENA NELSON, OTTO E. HODDIGK. 

